More EA Secure ROM DRM

[Mark B]

So I got home with my brand new Crysis Warhead today only to find out that its got limited activations, and I had already used one.

For those who don't already know the new Crysis Warhead and Command and Conquer Red Alert are both infected with the limited activations, in the same way Spore is.

The good news is that there are now 5 activations rather than 3 so its a little better also EA are going to release a tool soon which will let you deactivate an installation, but there is no release date for that yet. So your still renting a game which your paying full price for.

If you really want to buy the new Crysis its now available on steam SecureROM DRM free (it still has Steam DRM on it but that's far less obtrusive).

 

[Rapadas]

So what happens if you use up all your activations?

 

[astaldodhol]

Well that's good news. I've installed Spore on two computers. Mine and a friends, I would've only installed it on mine... But one of my friends told me that the DRM had been taken out.

Oh and if EA want me to buy any of their games again, this deactivate uninstall feature better be free.

 

[EmperorDude]

So what happens if you use up all your activations?

A code activates, I think anyway. But I do know it makes it impossible to use your disk anymore, forcing you to buy a new one if you want to play anymore.

 

[Mark B]

You have to phone EA and get treated like a theif, while asking for another activation.
If they do great, if not you have a great new coaster.

Info on the Copy protection
http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/41640/Cryteks-Crysis-Warhead-Copy-Protection-FAQ/p1/c1

Info on the forth comming activation de-activator
http://crymod.com/thread.php?threadid=36999

 

[Rapadas]

I usually get my games off Steam because I tend to lose my discs quite often and I find it really convenient if say my computer crashes or something like that.

 

[-Seraph-]

I was not aware Warhead had DRM untill it finished installing and i saw a securom window. I was rather pissed at that point, but at least this upcoming tool kind of balances it out. Be able to uninstall and reinstall without customer service BS after a while.

 

[Ixus Illwrath]

There's only 3 ways to prevent piracy from the gaming industry's perspective

1) Make games that require online certification I.E. WoW, TF2

2) Don't release the game on PC I.E. Madden 09, SW: Force Unleashed

3) Make unique cartridges/disks I.E. Wii games, SNES, etc..

They are yet to make a game that's uncrackable, CD keys are just algorithms, Disk-check can be emulated, .exe files can always be re-written. The only way for people to play a game like WoW, on the other hand, pirated, is to play on proxy servers - which is pretty undesirable.

Trust me, I got spore the day it was released in Australia off the pirate bay... and I skated past the whole argument unscathed. But I paid for WoW for over 2 years, paid for TF2, and a myriad of other games that have some sort of un-circumventable anti-piracy and a reason to actually play.

 

[Anarchemitis]

DRM is another reason why I'd use one of my wishes had I a magic genie for the prefect operating system. Maybe I'll elaborate some other time.

 

[Mark B]

@ Ixus Illwrath
There is a 4th option and that is validate your licence with an online account (ala steam).

and while the CD key thing can get annoying if your the type of person to loose the disk you have no one to blame but yourself.

 

[neems]

So I got home with my brand new Crysis Warhead today only to find out that its got limited activations, and I had already used one.

Wait. You had already used an activation by the time you got home? Were you playing it on your phone?

 

[Unknower]

DRM FAQ: http://www.incrysis.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=727

"Q: Do I have to re-authenticate after the first time my game is launched?

A: Re-authentication is required only if you make significant changes to your PC's hardware, reformat your hard drive, or in some cases, upgrade your Operating System. Multiple installations of the game on the same computer that has not gone through significant changes will not count against the number of computers the game can be installed on."



"It seems you have replaced a fan in your computer. This counts as significant change. Please re-authentificate."

So I got home with my brand new Crysis Warhead today only to find out that its got limited activations, and I had already used one.

Wait. You had already used an activation by the time you got home? Were you playing it on your phone?

That would be one pretty friggin' sweet phone.

 

[meatloaf231]

Man, every time I look at the title of the thread I see "OM NOM." Stupid internet.

But seriously, you would think EA would try to do a bit more than just up the activations allowed. I could elaborate, but I think Shamus pretty much has it right.